Chaillot Palace

25/02/2019 11:02:00

About the Palace

The Chaillot Palace (Palais de Chaillot), that replaced the old Trocadero Palace, is the building that represented France at the 1937 World Exhibition in Paris.

The Chaillot Palace, which consists of two separate parts with no connection between them, is characterised by two arms that look like a stretched arch from above. The structure was designed in the Strim Lane style, where the element of curvature is especially prominent. It was built by the architects Louis-Hippolyte Bauleau, Jacques Carlo and Leon Esme. The space between the two arms allows for a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower, the Champ de Mars and the Seine.

The UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on Human Rights here on December 10, 1948. The event was commemorated by a large stone monument in the square called the "Human Rights Promenade."

A fire that damaged the east side of the palace in 1997, brought it to a state of decay. However, with the years it became a paradise of architecture and construction. The place was redesigned and opened in March 2007 as the Museum of Architecture and Heritage, that tries to examine French architecture from the Middle Ages to the present.

On the east side of the palace you can find the Museum of French Statues, founded from the idea of the architect Viola-la-Duc. The exhibits are organized according to geographic regions and periods of times. This allows viewers to compare different styles and ideas.

Another institution in this side is the School of Architecture. It has an archive of 20th-century architecture and a place for higher education. You can also find here the National Theater of Chaillot..

About the Museums Inside the Chaillot Palace

There are many interesting museums you can visit in the Chaillot Palace:

The Marine Museum - dedicated to the marine history of France. Here you can find different models of ships, antique maps and marine navigation equipment. The museum is located inside the Chaillot Palace.

The Museum of Man - a museum with ethnographic exhibits. It was founded in 1937 by Paul Riva for the World Art and Technology Exhibition of the Modern Era. The purpose of the compilation of collections under one roof was to present human development from the prehistoric period and the differences between the different cultures.

The Museum of Monuments - the museum presents the development of French architecture from the Middle Ages until today, you will find two galleries: one dedicated to architecture and the other to wall paintings and stained glass windows. The museum offers models, 3D screenings, stained glass windows, paintings, books and films.

The National Chaillot Palace - here you can find the best theatre performances in Paris. The theatre hosts many of the best and famous plays and contains 3 luxurious theaters of different sizes. It has from an intimate and small space to a huge theater. The entrance of the theater, The Grand Foyer, provides a beautiful view of the gardens, ponds and fountains of the Trocadero Gardens.

The Trocadero Gardens

The Trocadero gardens contain a variety of statues, some very old. In the center of the gardens you can find the long and beautiful "Warsaw Fountain." They are divided into several levels decorated with sculptures. The is 93,930 square meters. In order to view them from the Eiffel Tower, you can cross the Pont d'Léna bridge, which connects the two banks of the Seine.

The gardens were built as part of the original palace that was here before the Chaillot Palace. The original palace - the Trocadero Palace was named after the battle of Trocadero that took place in France in 1823.

The big gardens are open to the wide public and are suitable for a nice picnic in the summer. On the edge of the big square in the center of the gardens you will find a small café with delicious desserts.

At nightime the statues are illuminated and during the day it is nice to take pictures in the gardens with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

For the residents of Paris the gardens serve as a meeting place for "skateboarders." The square is regularly used for demonstrations, events and celebrations.A Closer Look: